Container for oil and the like



1957 J. E. SN YDER ETAL 2,781,900

CONTAINER FOR OIL AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 19, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.I.

FIG. 5 iisi FIG. 6

INVENTOR.

I6 :5- JAMES E SNYDER By RUBY JEAN SWARTZ IRENE COLLINS FIG. 7

Feb. 19, 1957 J. E. SNYDER ET AL 2,781,900

CONTAINER FOR on. AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 19, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTORS JAMES E. SNYDER By RUBY JEAN SWARTZ IRENE COLLINS nited StatesPatent 2,781,900 CONTAINER FOR OIL AND THE LIKE James E. Snyder, RubyJean Swartz, and Irene Collins, Akron, Ohio, assignors, by mesneassignments, to The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, a corporation ofOhio Application October 19, 1953, Serial No. 386,952 9 Claims. (Cl.206-46) salad oils, greases, disinfectants, fruits and vegetablespackaged with syrup or other liquid, etc. The containers are made oftubes of film sealed at each end, and reinforced by gathering thesesealed ends and handing them.

. If the walls of the container are formed of a plurality of plies offilm, at least the inner two plies are sealed together to preventseepage of the liquid. The other plies may be sealed to one another andto the inner ply more or less tightly, at the ends of the package, orthey may be entirely separate from the inner plyand from one another.Each band is placed so that its inner edge is located inwardly of theseal that unites opposite surfaces or edges of the inner ply andsupports the wall of the bag against the outward pressure of itscontents which, except for the band, would tend to separate the oppositeWalls of the inner ply at the seal. Thus the band prevents any strain onthe inner edge of the seal, the weakest part of the bag. Metal bands arepreferably employed for holding the gathered ends, but they may be tiedor otherwise held closely together.

Packages of liquid or fine powders, made from tubes of film, are weakestand most apt to leak at the sealed ends. Pressure applied to an end sealby compression of the package or by a surge of the liquid such as isprodueed by sudden starting or stopping of a vehicle transporting thepackage, or by dropping the package, tends to force the liquid or powderbetween the walls of the container and separate them at one or both endsof the package or to rupture the wall of the package along the inneredge of the seal, so thatthe package leaks. In the package of thisinvention this is overcome by preventing the separation or rupture ofthe walls of the container by external banding. Banding is mostefficient if the sealed :end of the container is first gatheredtogether. Uniform pleating makes a stronger package than mere haphazardgathering.

The containers of this invention are intended primarily toreplacehiecylindrical cans now commonly employed for dispensinglubricating oil at service stations, etc. There are many advantages inusing the film packages instead of cans. They occupy less space whenfull and are lighter in Weight, and when emptied the containers maybe-easily disposedof, as by burning. .By squeezing the film of theemptied container the oil retained on it .is re .duced to aminimum. Thepackages are .easily handled, as by holding either one .or more by thebanded seal at the end. It made of transparent film the transparency ofthepackages adds appreciably to their sales appeal.

The containers may be made of several plies of film ancl this willusuallybe necessary to get the strength required. in an oil, package.The tubeportion of the container may be manufactured fiat, or madeconvolutely, [K -fi y b sphahywound the edges overlapping. ifv notspirallyQwound the longitudinal seam is preferably made at one edgeofthe tube rather than at ice the center. The container (or at least theinner plyif ;the walls of the container are multi-ply) is made ofheat-sealable film and the seams are heat sealed.

Films of different composition may be used in making the container. Foroil packages, the inner ply or two (if there are more than .two plies)is made of film which, if plasticized, contains a plasticizer whichisrelatively insoluble in lubricating oil. The outer ply or plies maycontain oil-soluble plasticizer. The flexibility and strength of the.plies may be prolonged by providing plasticizer for them, in excess ofthat which is-in the film. This is held between two of the plies of thecontainer and as plasticizer migrates from an outer ply to the inner plyandis dissolved from the inner surface of thisply bythe lubricatin goil, additional plasticizer will bedissolvedinto the outer ply or pliesof the film from-the liquid layer of excess plasticizer until the liquidlayer of plasticizer betwee the two plies has been exhausted.

Films which may be used in manufacturing the containerinclude vinyl film(polyvinyl chloride or copolymer of vinyl chloride and another monomersuch as yinyl acetate, suitably plasticized), polyethylene, copolymer ofvinyl chloride and vinylidene chloride .(Saran), nylon, polyvinylalcohol, rubber hydrochloride film, other plastic films, metal foil(preferably coated with heat-scalable coating), cellophane andievenpaper. If the container is made of two or more plies offilin, the filmin the different plies may be the same vor different. For instance,.theinner ply or two may serve primarily .as a barrier to prevent the liquidcontained in the package from attacking the outer ply or .two which givestrength, particularly bursting strength,.to the package.

For packaging most liquids, and particularly thin'liquids such as oils,it is necessary that the opposite wallsgofzthe inner ply be united byastrong seal, and that is thereason a heat seal is preferred. For viscousliquids, semi-solids and fine powders there is less dangerof seepage anda weaker seal maybe used if the band which surroundsthe gathered sealedend of the package compresses'it tightly enough to prevent leakage aswell as breakage of the film.

The seal need not bear heat seal. Solvent may he used to unite theoppositewalls of the bag. The solvent may contain adhesive components.,An adhesive having no solvent effect onthe filmmight beused, :but. asolvent seal or heat seal is preferred.

The invention will .be further described inconnection with theaccompanying drawings, in which vFig. .1 .shows a container with acenter longitudinal seam and a bottom seam (both heat sealed), the topof the container being open;

Fig. 2 shows the same with the bottom seam gathered in pleats;

Fig. 3 is .a view of the same but with a-metalband holdingthe pleatedseal;

Fig. 4 is the same, filled with liquid and sealed. at the p;

Fig. 5 shows the completed package with the top as Well as the bottomseal pleated and held with a metal band;

Fig. 6 shows a flat container similar to mat of Fig. 1, but with an edgeseal instead ,of the center seal;

Fig. 7.is a section on the line '77 ofFig. 6;.

Fig. 8 shows ,aspirally ,Woundtubeof film which may be used inmanufacturing the container;

Fig. 9 is a section through .a two-ply package, .showing the edges ofindividual plies interleaved t t the seal;

Fig. 10 is a section through a two-ply package made convolutely on amandrel;

Fig. 11 is a section through a three-ply package in which all plies areinter heat-sealablej A Fig. 12 isa section through a three-ply packagewith the plies interleaved atthecenter seam;

Fig. 13 is a section through a three-ply package with the edges of theplies interleaved, but irregularly, at the center seam, and with liquidplasticizer, between the two outer plies;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged vertical section through a pleated, sealed andhanded bottom closure, showing the inner edge of the band locatedinwardly of the heat seal;

Fig. 15 illustrates a bottom closure using string or wire instead of ametal band;

Fig. 16 is a vertical section through a carton showing how the packagesare held therein, one above the other;

Fig. 17 is a horizontal section through the carton; and

Fig. 18 is a section through a drum which contains a single filmcontainer which may hold five gallons of grease or other material.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a container 1 made of heat-scalable film withthe opposite walls united in fiat contact at the bottom by the heat seal2 and the edges of the film overlapped to form the center heat seal 3.The bottom seal extends to the line 4. Before banding and filling, thebottom heat seal 2 is pleated, as shown in Fig. 2. Then the strong metalband (Fig. 3) is fastened tight around the pleated heat seal. Figure 14is an enlarged detail which clearly shows that the upper edge of theband 5, at the line 6, is positioned inward- 1y of the top of the heatseal. As shown in Fig. 14, the top edge of the heat seal preferablycomes at about the centerline of the band. The band 5 is strong, withrounded or flanged edges. It is not easily bent, and resists anytendency of the pleated heat seal to expand due to outward pressure ofthe contents of the package which tends to separate the walls of thecontainer. Such pressure is quite great when produced by a surge of theliquid such as might be caused by dropping the package or by the suddenstopping or starting of a vehicle in which the package is beingtransported. With this construction substantially the only function ofthe heat seal is to hold the edges of the film together along the line 4and prevent leakage of the contents of the package.

The bags shown are designed particularly to hold a quart of lubricatingoil, and it has been found that a bag which measures 6 /2 inches acrossand 9 inches in length is stronger and not as apt to leak as one whichmeasures 5% inches across and 10'inches in length. The metal bands orclips are preferably made of aluminum and are inch wide with flangededges. A clip 1 inch long is required to completely encircle the pleatedheat seal of a three-ply bag. Aluminum bands No. D-397l manufactured byVac-Tie Fasteners, 1110., of Elizabeth, New Jersey, meet therequirements. Smaller bands will suffice for single ply bags. The pleatsare preferably about inch across. Approximately twenty folds will berequired to gather the seal of the aforesaid bag together. Machines areavailable for crimping bands around the pleated ends.

After the bottom of the container has been handed it is filled with oil(or other liquid or a fine powder) to the level 7 (Fig. 4) and theopposite sides of the top are heat sealed together in flat contact at 8.The top is pleated and banded by a metal band 9. Figure 5 shows a planview of the completed package lying on a fiat surface.

For the sake of simplifying the illustration Figs. 1 to 5 have beenshown as made with a center longitudinal seam. Tests have indicated thatcontainers made with a lapped longitudinal seam on the edge are somewhatstronger than those similarly constructed with a center seam. Figures 6and 7 show the container with the heat seals 16 at one edge, and thebottom heat sealed at 17. In completing the package, the heat sea] atthe ends will be pleated and handed in the manner described.

The tube portion of the container may be formed by spirally winding astrip of the film and sealing the overplies in opposite directions givesstrength to the bag.

Figure 10 is a section through a tube made eonvolutely on a mandrel. Asingle piece of heat-scalable film is used, but it is wrapped twicearound the mandrel forming the inner and outer plies 24 and 25, allsealed together by heat at 26. Instead of sealing the plies together ata single position, the inner and outer ends may be sealed to theintermediate stretch of film at different locations. The ends of theconvolute tube are sealed (preferably with a. heat seal) and thengathered and bound externally by a band or its equivalent such as a tieor the like. Liquid plasticizer may be provided between the plies toprolong the period in which the plies maintain their high strength. Apreferred pouch is made of three convolute plies of a continuous sheetcomposed of parts rubber hydrochloride with 42.5 parts dimethoxyethylphthalate. Such a pouch when used for lubricating oil need contain noliquid plastieizer between the plies.

The conventional lapped-seam tube may be made of two plies, and theyneed not be of the same composition. Often plies of unlike compositionare used, each contributing its peculiar properties to produce aparticularly satisfactory package. Figure 9 shows a section through sucha container. It is noted that the edges of the respective plies areinterleaved at the seal 20. An excellent container for pickles in brinemay be made in this way. The inner ply 21 is polyethylene and the outerply 22 is heat-scalable coated cellophane. The inner surfaces of theinner ply of polyethylene are heat sealed to one another at the seams.This bond is a strong bond. The bond between the polyethylene and thecoated cellophane is weak, but strength here is not essental because theexternal band provides the necessary strength. In the above pouch forpickles, Saran or Pliofilm may replace the cellophane.

If two or three plies of the same composition are used, the edges neednot be interleaved. Such film may, for instance, be composed of 100parts rubber hydrochloride with 42.5 parts of dimethoxyethyl phthalatc.A cross section through this type of construction is shown in Fig. 11with the inner edge of each of the plies 30, 31 and 32 inside of thetube at the seal 33, and the other edge of each ply outside. Dissimilarfilms may be used providing they are inter-heat-sealable at the seam 33(Fig. 11). If the plies are not inter-heat-scalablc, their edges arepreferably interleaved at the seal. Figure 12 illustrates such aconstruction with the three plies 36. 37 and 38 sealed at 39.

There are several combinations of filrns that may be used satisfactorilyin a package for a quart of oil. One suitable composition ispolyethylene and rubber hydrochloride. The polyethylene is sufficientlyoil resistant and a single ply 0.002 inch thick may be used as the innerply of a three-ply package. Both outer plies may be rubberhydrochloride, and these will be plasticized to give them strength. Eachply may be, for instance, 0.0014 inch thick and be composed of 100 partsrubber hydrochloride, 11.3 parts methoxyethyl oleate, and 11.3 partsdibutyl sebacate. The edges of the respective plies are interleaved andsealed as shown in Fig. 12. At the seams the polyethylene is thus sealedto itself, and the respective rubber hydrochloride films are sealed tothemselves. Each of these seals is a tight seal. The rubberhydrochloride and polyethylene do not form a strong bond when sealed toone another, but this is immaterial because there is no *body of oil incontact with this seal.

This seal temporarily holds the strong two-ply jacket of rubberhydrochloride in place about the inner ply of polyethylene during thebag fabricating and filling operations.

Alternatively, an inner ply of 0.002 inch polyethylene may bestrengthened by two plies of cellophane with added plasticizer which hasno effect on the polyethylene but makes the cellophane stronger than ifit is plasticized with the limited amount of plasticizer that can bedissolved in a workable sheet. Plasticizers which may be used forglycerol, urea solution, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, etc. Thecellophane is advantageously moistureproofed on only one side, with thetwo uncoated sides facing one another. Cellophane MSBO and MSAT-80 haveproven satisfactory. Figure 13 illustrates a layer of plasticizerbetween the two plies of cellophane. Ten cubic centimeters of liquidethylene glycol between two plies of cellophane used in a one-quart bag,will appreciably strengthen the film.

The structure illustrated in Fig. 13 is not limited to this combinationof films and plasticizers. Thus, the two outer plies 40 and 41 need notbe cellophane, the liquid plasticizer 42 need not be ethylene glycol,and the inner ply need not be polyethylene. Thus, the inmost ply 43 maybe rubber hydrochloride film 0.00120 inch thick plasticized with about26 percent of an oil insoluble plasticizer, such as copolymer preparedfrom 50 to 80 parts by weight of butadiene and 50 to 20 parts by weightof acrylonitrile, and the outer plies 40 and 41 may be rubberhydrochloride film 0.00140 inch thick plasticized with diiferentplasticizers, e. g. 9 percent by weight of dibutyl sebacate and 9percent by weight of methoxyethyl oleate to give the package greaterstrength. Liquid plasticizer used to strengthen the film may be 10 cc.of a mixture of six volumes of gasoline and four volumes of dibutylphthalate. Plasticizer dissolved into the intermediate ply 41 from theliquid 42 will eventually saturate the ply 41 and the excess willmigrate into the inner ply 43. Thus plasticizer from the liquid layer 42slowly migrates into the inner plies to increase their strength. Somepasses on into the oil. The liquid plasticizer may be between the twoinner plies, but in this construction the plasticizer dissolves morerapidly into the inner ply and may be supplied too rapidly from theinner ply to the lubricating oil (or other liquid) within the package.

-It is not necessary to use a metal band to hold the pleated heat sealstogether. Figure illustrates how a wire 50 or strong string or the likemay be wrapped around the pleated material above the heat seal and drawntight to prevent the liquid from rupturing the package at the inner edge4 of the heat seal. The wire or string is located so that its inner edge6 is located inwardly of the edge of the heat seal 4. If a string isused it is tied; if a wire, it may be twisted to tighten it. A six-inchpiece of 12/ 12 twist rayon tire cord with a tensile strength of 20.5pounds, wrapped three times around the end of a bag (just above the heatseal, as illustrated in Fig. 15), and tied with a square knot, hassuccessfully prevented breakage of oil packages. It is only necessarythat the pleated (or otherwise gathered) material be held together withan external fastener inwardly of the heat seal.

The packages of oil or the like may be packaged individually in cartonsor drums, or several packages may be placed in a single carton or drumor the like. Figures 16 and 17 illustrate several packages 52 placedtight against one another in a carton 53, for shipping and storing.Figure 18 illustrates a drum 55 of metal, fibre board or other suitablematerial, containing a pouch 56 of five-gallon capacity and holdinggrease or other ma terial, banded at each end at 57, as hereindescribed. The ends of the pouch are sealed and pleated under the bands.

The invention is defined in the claims which follow.

What we claim is:

1. The method of forming a package of fluent material which comprisessealing the opposed inner surfaces at one end of a tube of film materialtogether in flat contact, gathering the sealed end together and thensnugly encircling said gathered end with a band immediately inwardly ofthe seal whereby the band protects the seal against strains produced bypressure of'the fluent contents of the package against the inner edge ofthe seal.

2. The method of forming a package of fluent material which comprisessealing the opposed inner surfaces at one end of a tube of film materialtogether by heat in flat contact, the inner surface of the tube beingcomposed of heat-sealable material, gathering the sealed end and snuglybanding the gathered end externally with the inner edge of the bandlocated between the heat seal and the contents of the package, fillingthe tube with a fluent material, then sealing the opposed inner surfacesof the other end of the tube together by heat in flat contact, gatheringthis sealed end, and snugly handing it externally with the inner edge ofthe band located between the heat seal and the contents of the packagewhereby the band protects the seal against strains produced by pressureof the fluent contents of the package against the inner edge of theseal.

3. A package of fluent material comprising a container which includes atube of film holding the material, with opposed inner surfaces at oneend thereof sealed in flat contact, with the sealed end gatheredtogether and snugly held by a band the inner edge of which is locatedinwardly of the seal and prevents separation of said sealed endsurfaces, whereby the band protects the seal against strains produced bypressure of the fluid contents of the package against the inner edge ofthe seal.

4. A package of fluent material comprising a container formed of a tubeof film holding the material, with the opposed inner surfaces of thefilm sealed in flat contact at both ends thereof, with the sealed endspleated and each snugly held by a band the inner edge of which islocated inwardly of the respective seals, and which band preventsrelease of the respective pleated ends of the tube and protects the sealagainst strains produced by pressure of the contents of the packageagainst the inner edge of the seal.

5. The package of claim 4 in which the inner surface of the tube is ofheat-scalable composition and the seals at the ends of the tube are heatseals.

6. The package of claim 4 in which the tube is made from at least twoplies of film material, with the opposed inner surfaces of the inner plysealed as set forth in claim 4, and the ply adjacent the inner plyinterpleated with the inner ply and held to the inner ply by the bandsat the respective ends of the container.

7. The package of claim 4 in which the tube is multiply, with the innerply of heat-scalable composition and the seals at the respective endsheat seals which unite the opposed surfaces of the heat-scalablecomposition, with the adjacent outer ply of different heat-scalablecomposition and its respective ends bonded to the inner ply by heat.

8. The package of claim 4 in which the tube is multiply and the packagedmaterial is a liquid, with liquid plasticizer between two plies outsideof the inner ply, the plasticizer being soluble in the inner ply and theliquid, whereby it migrates through the ply adjacent to the liquidplasticizer into the inner ply and thence into the liquid;

9. The package of claim 4 in which the tube is formed with alongitudinal lapped seam and this seam is located at one end of thepleated bottom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,712,454 Spencer May 7, 1929 2,071,300 Gammeter Feb. 16, 1937 2,259,866Stokes Oct. 21, 1941 2,635,742, Swartz et al Apr. 21, 1953

